Grain cleaning and conditioning machine



Nov. 11, 1941. A. A. SCHOENEGG GRAIN CLEANING AND CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1939- s Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Nov. 11, 1941.

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A. A. SCHOENEGG GRAIN CLEANING AND CONDITIONING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1959 Maul """llllllnI-i aifa 12M,

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Nov. 11,1941. A. A; SCHOENEGG GRAIN CLEANING AND'GONDITIONING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1939 svs he ts-sheet s Nov. 11, 1941. A. ASCHOENEGG GRAIN CLEANING AND CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1939 -5 Sheets-Sheet 4 N Q\ n m w w m. m h m a u n w l m r t Nov. 11, 1941- A. A. SCHOENEGG GRAIN CLEANING AND CONDITIONING MACHINE Fil ed July 25. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 H||||l|||l|||||||||||l i F6 imllllllmumlllllll vm www mlllll H'IIII'IIIII I I" a h X I grain, cleaningsmut and like Patenied" Nov. 11', 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE I e 2,262,331 j e 3 1 GRAINCLEANING ANI) CONDITIONING e MAonINE, o AntonA. Schoenegg, Marysville, Calif.

! Application July 25,1939, Seria l No. 2sc,431j

a olaim (Cl. 209-285) I This invention relates to a machine for cleaning and/or conditioning grain, and the primary object of the same is to improve the efiiciency of grain cleaning machines generally and particularly machines of the type utilizing a revolving screeningdrum such as that disclosed in my prior f Patent No. 1,640,010 granted August 23, 1927, and at the same time render such machines adaptable not only for cleaning grain of various kinds but also for conditioning grain, for exing drum; Fig. a is a view in plan of Fig. 6; and

ample, by drying or dehydrating the same, rendering the grain uniform insize or grading the objectionable matter from wheat, etc.;

More Specifically, the invention contemplates a grain cleaning and conditioning machine of the rotary screen type employing suctionfor drawing screenings through and removingthem from the screen wherein means are provided for selectively applying suction to the interior ofjthe active area of the screening drum to obtain the most, efiicient screening operation. "Actual experience has demonstrated that unless suction is applied substantially uniformly over the active area of the screen, inefficient cleaning and screening results. Through a particular type of vacuum or suction applying unit, to be described, I I have effectively solved thisproblem.

Another feature of importance in the present invention lies in the provision of means for agitating the grain deposited on the screening drum and at the same time operating to clean the I screen in a highly effective manner andprevent clogging of the screen. This agitating, and cleans ing means also functions to distribute the grain equally over the periphery of the screen.

The foregoing and other objects and features I endiof the drum III. 1

of novelty and advantage willbecome apparent in View of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: l

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation ofwhat may be a considered the front side of a machine for clean ing and. conditioning grain constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention; i

I Fig. 2 is Fig; 4 is an enlarged view inperspective looking down on themachine at an angle, and particularly showing the exterior cleaning and agitating brushes and the means for actuating the same; I I

Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalse'cti'on taken board. Grain is a view in end elevation "of the Inaapplying suction to the active area screening drum is cured, to the hopper or downwardly thereby varying the Fig. '5 is a view in perspective offwhat is termed herein a vacuum tank for selectively Fig. 5b is an end elevation thereof. 1 Referring to the drawings in detail, a rotary generally indicated at H), said drum being provided with a screen I 0a which may be made of perforated sheet metaLscreen wire or othermaterial, the screen openings, being of a gauge or size suitable for properly screening or conditioning the grain to be handled. The drum is mounted in bearings II which in turn are supported byend frames [2 andl2a, 'the latter, being mounted on a base frame l3;

The drum may be driven in any suitable man nor, the drive in the present instant being taken from a suitable source of power by a pulley mounted on a cross shaft IS. A sprocketgear I6 is secured on shaft 15 and connects through sprocket chain" with sprocket l8 mountedon one end of shaft l9, thelatter having bearing in frame members I 2 and I la and having secured on theoppositeend thereof a gear 20 which meshes with a ring gear2l secured-on 'the one Grain is fed to the drum bymeans of ahopper 22 having mounted in the lower or discharge end thereof a rotary feeder 23, said feeder being mounted on a shaft 23a having secured on one end thereof. a pulley 24 which is driven from 26, the pulley 25 pulley-25 by means of belt being secured on one end of the shaft l 5.

In 'order to adjust the rate of feed of grain from the. hopper 22, the latter has connected thereto a feed boardZl having a curved bottom portion 21a, the board 21 being adjustably se- 22 by means of bolts 21b which project through brackets 21c and 2101 secured, respectively, to the hopper and to the said discharged from the hopper. through an opening or slot 28; and to control the rate of feed from the hopper, all that is necessary is to adjust the member 21 upwardly size ofopening 28. If themember, 21 is adjusted downwardly, the opening 28is' widened and the rate of feed increased, whereas the reverse takes place if the said member 21 is adjusted upwardly.

From the hopper 22 grain is deposited on chute or casing 29 which directs it to the periphery of of thescreenthe means for applying suction to the active surface of the screen 10a, said means being termed herein a vacuum tank which is generally indicated at 35 and is shown in detail in Figs. 5, 5a and 5b and in applied position in Fig. 3. This tank is formed with a main vacuum and screenings receiving chamber 35a above which is. a

partitioning Wall 33 having a series of suction ports or openings 3la3lf. Overlying the wall 36 are converging inclined walls 33, 38a which converge at the top of the tank; and a series of short pipelengths 39 project upwardly from the openings Sic-31f. Partitions 40 separate each pair of inlet openings and are adapted to fit relatively close against the upper active area of the screen Iva. I

'Each of the openings 31a, 31b, etc., is provided with a damper or adjustable closure member 4| slidably mounted in guides Ma. The dampers 41 are arranged in pairs with each pair controlled through the medium of rods Mb, die and Md, said rods projecting exteriorly of the drum at one end thereof and being accessible for selective adjustment of the dampers 4|, note Fig. l.

The vacuum tank may be'supported in any suitable manner in the interior of the drum H). In the present instance one end of the tank is provided with angle brackets 42 which rest on an end bracket or frame member 43 while the opposite end of the tank is provided with an extension 44 which connects withan elbow 44a in turn connected to an extension of the fan housing 30.

By referring to Fig. 3, which shows the vac-- uum. tank in applied'position, it will be noted that the wall 36 partitions off the upper half of the screen Illa, such upper half being herein termed the active portion of the screen. The tank is entirely sealed from the drum l0 except for the suction or inlet openings 31a, 31b, etc.,' the means for sealing .the space between the drum and tank at the opposite ends of the drum consisting of end plates 45, one of which is indicated in Fig. 2, each having secured on the inner side thereof a gasket 45b, saidend plates being clamped in position through the. medium of wing nuts 45c, At the opposite sides of the wall 3% flexible sealing members 46 .are .mounted and are adapted to substantially seal the space between the said Wall and the screen rotating adjacent thereto. Thus, it will be seen that when suction is set upin the chamber 35a of the tank 35, such suction will be communicated to the active portion of the screen Hla through the openings 3'la-3'lj. The exact size of each these openings to obtain a uniform suction or vacuum throughout the active area of the screen may be determined through the medium of a vacuum gauge, or the operation of the machine may be observed and the openings adjusted to obtain the most efiicient cleaning and conditioning operation. Actual experience hasdemonstrated that this apparatus is remarkably; effective in obtaining a uniform suction action with respect to the active area of the screen.

Another feature of importance in the present machine is the means for agitating the grain and distributing it over the exterior active area of the screening drum as it is fed thereto and for effectively cleaning said screen, or maintaining the openings therein free for passage of air and screenings therethrough.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4., a series of brush holders are indicated at 46, said holders being semi-circular in shape and having on the inner side thereof brushes 46a. The brush holders are connected for movement in unison to brackets 46b, 46c, 46d, which in turn are carried by slide bearing blocks 41, 41a and 411), note also Fig. 3, said blocks being slidably mounted on guide rods '48, 48a and 481) which in turn are secured in end brackets 49 and 49a connected to the end frames 12 and I2a.

The brushes are reciprocated by means of a pitman rod 59 which at one end is pivotally connected to the bearing block 41a and at its opposite end is connected to an eccentric or crank 5t mounted on a shaft 52 having bearing in brackets 53 secured to the end frame l2a. The shaft 52 has secured on one end thereof a bevel gear 54 in mesh with gear 55 secured on the one end of shaft 56. Shaft 56 is driven from shaft I5 through the medium of sprocket 51 which connects with sprocket 58 secured on shaft 56 through sprocket chain 59.

In operation, the brush holders are reciprocated back and forth axially of the drum and act to clean the active portion of the screen lfla, as well as agitate the grain and distribute the latter over the drum and Work the screenings through the openings in the screen. In certain instances, as in the case of smut in wheat, these brushes serve to munch or break down the smut and work it through the openings in the screen. These brushes materially assist the suction action on the interior of the screen to pull the screenings through the holes in the screen, continually working any particles which resist passage through the screen and bringing said particles in different positions so'that they will be more readily acted on by suction.

Means are also provided interiorly of the drum to cooperate with the exterior cleaning brushes and ensure effective cleaning of the screen, said means comprising a brush 69, note particularly Fig. 3, which is mounted on a shaft 6| projecting exteriorly' of the drum and being mounted in bearings carried by the end frames l2 and I211. The shaft Blhas secured on the one end thereof a pulley 6-2, the drive of the pulley 62 being taken from a pulley 63' mounted on shaft l9 and connecting with pulley 62 through belt 64. The brush 60 and shaft 6| are mounted in a housing or shield 65 which is shaped from the wall of the vacuum tank 35, note Fig. 5 in conjunction with Fig. 3. Thus the tank is sealed off from the brush and there is no chance of leakage at this point.

The brush 6!) is preferably rotated in a direction counter to the rotation of the drum-Land acts to remove any screening or particles which tend to hang in the openings of the screen 10a. Actual experience has demonstrated that this interior cleaning brush working in conjunction with the exterior reciprocating brushes ensures an effective cleaning action of the screen under all conditions of grain treatment.

The screened and conditioned grain, after it has been acted on by the drum [0, falls; into 2,262,337 'a chute as and then into a take-off conduitli'l,

note Fig. :3" in conjunction with Fig. 1. I From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the drawings, the operation of the machine will be readily understood Briefly, the rain to be cleanedand/or: conditioned is deposited in the hopper 22, and is fed by thefeeder 23 through the slot 28 into the chute 29, which :directssit to the periphery of the screen Illa of the drum ID. The drum rotates clockwise as indicated in Fig. 3, the grain being deposited on the active area of .thescreen' on theleft hand side as viewed in said figure. -As the .drum' rotates, it carries the grain around on. the screen while the brushes 46a are continuously reciprocated toi equally distribute and work the grain on the, periphery of the active portion f the screen. @Suction is applied to the interior of the active portion of the screen Illa by means of the fan in the housing 30 acting through the conduit 44a, 44 and the openings 3la-3If in tank 35, the suction being applied substantially equally and uniformly to said portion. In this connection, it will, be noted that the particular. construction of theupperhalf of the vacuum tank 35 effectively seals off the, upper half of the screening drum constituting the active portion of the screen Illa. Due to. the action of the exterior cleaning brushes 46a in connection with the interiorbrush 6 0, thesuction applied through thewtank 35 effectively removes all screenings from the grain as the latter is carried around by the screening drum. The screened and/or conditioned rain is carried aroundon the drum and deposited in chute 66, and is taken off through conduit 61; while the screenings are taken oil the active area of the drum through the receiving portion 35a of the tank 35 and then to the cyclone separator 33 through the conduits 44 and it, the housing 30 and conduit 32.

Due to the particular construction of the present machine, it is not only adapted for screening grain but also for conditioning and grading grain. For example, wheat which is in a relatively soft state or damp may be passed through the machine and dried, while at the same time the wheat may be graded, thereby separating the wheat into number 1 and number 2 grades which might otherwise be all number 2 grade. Also, in the case of smutty wheat, the brushes 46a break the smutty wheat due to their reciprocatory movement and the suction pulls the smut through the screen without blackening the good wheat. The machine also, as in my prior patented machines, may be efiectively used in the cleaning of rice.

In certain instances, it may be desired to use a battery of screening drums, in which event the chute 66 may deposit the grain onto another drum below the drum III. In other words, a battery of machines may be used in superimposed relation.

It will be understood that no attempt has been made to recit all the advantages and uses of the improved grain cleaning and conditioning machine, and it will be further understood that certain changes in construction, design and arrangement of the several parts may be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is; v 1. In a grain cleaning and conditioning machine, a rotary screening drum, a hopper disposed above said drum and provided with a chute arranged to deliver grain to be cleaned 3 to the peripheral surface of the drum, means for rotating the drum, means partitioning off an active segment of the drum axially of the latter, and means for applying suction to and removing screenings from the interior of said drum-said latter means including a hollow body projected into the drum and provided with a series of suction openings spaced axially along and partitioned from one another transversely of said active segment.

2. In a grain cleaning and conditioning machine, a rotary screening drum having a foraminated member or screen thereon, means for feeding grain to the periphery of said screen, a hollow body disposed within the screenand having a wall serving to partition oii a portion of the screen axially of the drum and which portion constitutes the active portion of the screen, said partition having a plurality of openings formed therein and opening outwardly along the active portion of thescreen, means sealing said active portion at the edges of said partition and the opposite ends thereof, and means for creating suction in said hollow body, the suction being transmitted uniformly to the active portion of the screen through said openings.

3. In a grain cleaning and conditioning machine, a rotary screening drum having a foraminated member or screen thereon, means for feeding grain to the periphery of said screen, a vacuum or suction tank mounted within the screen and having a wall extending across the inner diameter of the drum and partitioning oil a portion of the screen axiallyof the drum and which portion constitutes the activ portion of the screen, said partition wall being formed with a plurality of openings spaced along the active portion of the screen, means partitioning said openings one from another, transversely of the active portion, and means for creating suction in said tank to thereby create suction through said openings and the active portion of the screen uniformlythroughout said active portion.

4. In a grain cleaning and conditioning machine, a rotaryscreening drum having a foraminated member or screen thereon, means for supplying grain to be cleaned to the periphery of said screen, means for rotating the drum, a vacuum or suction tank disposed axially within the drum and having a suction chamber with closed side and bottom walls within the lower portion of the drum and a wall overlying said chamber and partitioning off the upper era of the screen and which area constitutes the active portion of the screen, said wall being provided with a plurality of suction inlets or openings spaced axially along the active portion of the screen to thereby distribute the suction uniformly throughout said portion, and means partitioning off said openings transversely of the drum.

5. In a grain cleaning and conditioning machine, a rotary screening drum having a foraminated member or screen thereon, means for feeding grain to the periphery of said screen, means for rotating the drum, a suction or vacuum tank disposed within the drum and having a suction chamber lying within the lower portion of the drum and a partition wall overlying said chamber and partitioning oif the upper area of the drmn and which area constitutes the active portion of the screen, a plurality of suction openings formed in said partition walland spaced substantially uniformly along the active portion of the screen, a generally inverted V-shaped wall projecting upwardly from said partition, said openings communic'ating' with the screen through said wall, and means partitioning off said openings transversely of the wall.

6. In a grain cleaning and. conditioning machine, a rotary screening drum having a foraminated member or screen thereon, means for feeding grain to be cleaned to the periphery of said screen, a hollow body or vacuum tank disposed within said drum and having a partition wall partitioning off a portion of the drum and which portion constitutes the active portion of the screen, said partition wall being formed with a plurality of openings for transmitting suction from the tank to and through the active portion of the screen, and means for selectively adjusting said openings to thereby adjust the suction action applied to the screen.

7. In combination with a hollow screening drum having a foraminated member or screen thereon, a vacuum tank having a suction chamber disposed in the lower portion of the drum and a partition wall overlying said chamber and partitioning off a segment of the drum and which segment constitutes an active portion of the screen, a plurality of suction openings formed in said partition wall and opening outwardly into the active portion of the screen, and means partitioning off said openings transversely and longitudinally of the drum.

8. In a grain cleaning and conditioning machine, a rotary screening drum having a foraminated member or screen thereon, means for feeding grain to the periphery of said screen, means for rotating the drum, means partitioning all a segment of the drum interiorly of the latter and which segment constitutes an active portion of the screen, a plurality of brush holders substantially semi-circular in shape mounted on the periphery of the drum and carrying brushes in contact with the active portion of the screen,

means for reciprocating said brushes axially of the screen as the latter is being rotated to thereby distribute the grain over the screen and work the screenings through the screen, a brush mounted interiorly of the drum and engaging the interior surface of the screen, means for rotating said latter brush in a direction counter to the rotation of the drum, and means for applying suction to the interior of the drum to draw screenings through the screen and remove them from the drum.

9. In a grain cleaning and conditioning machine, a rotary screening drum having a foraminated member or screen thereon, a vacuum tank mounted interiorly of the drum and having a tank portion proper and a wall overlying said portion and partitioning ofi a segment of the drum and which segment constitutes an active portion of the screen, said wall being formed with a plurality of suction inlet openings opening outwardly into the active portion of the screen and serving to apply suction uniformly throughout the active area of the screen, means sealing off the opposite ends of the active portion of the screen, a rotary cleaning brush mounted interiorly oi the drum, a housing separating said brush from said tank, and means for rotating said brush.

ANTON A. SCHOENEGG. 

